The 1938 US competition sought 165- and 110-foot submarine chasers alongside 54- and 70-foot motor torpedo boats. The nominal 70-foot boat could be up to 80 feet long and had to carry at least two 21-inch torpedo tubes, four depth charges, and two .50-calibre machine guns. It was to reach 40 knots, with an operating radius of at least 275 miles at that speed and 550 miles at cruising speed. The smaller design traded endurance for transportability and allowed an alternative gunboat configuration. The Navy explicitly excluded Hickman's sea-sled approach, even though other builders were willing to use his ideas.
Chapter · 20:42-34:10
The 1938 US Navy PT-boat competition
The US Navy sought fast boats with specified endurance and armament while excluding Hickman's sea-sled design.